Organizers

organizers@lists.sharedweight.net

4 participants
518 discussions

by Greg Allan via Organizers

Hi, Greg from Winnipeg. While the contra community that I have been fostering here in Winnipeg is brand new, I have seen a drop in attendance from last year. Two contra evenings I organized had 50+ people in attendance last year. dropping to 20-30 this year. For the most recent one, I booked talent, Champion fiddler Patti Kusturok, and cut the price from 13 to 10 dollars. That bumped the attendance from the 20s into the 30s, but I'm not seeing 50s anymore. The swing dance community has seen a drop as well, though I believe that is directly linked to an increased price in a new venue. I have heard people tend to come and leave early - that it lacks a certain enthusiasm. Funnily enough, I myself have been coming late and leaving early from some other folk dance groups I'm a part of. ... Maybe if I ponder that enough, I will come up with the solution for everyone. General malaise? But otherwise, I feel the problems are social in nature. For example, people who have been coming to groups for a long time that feel that changes in standards are not in their taste or are having trouble getting to know new members. Or perhaps its the push to innovate and make things more exciting for current members or to attract new members... like new bands, new music, new figures, new progressions, new formations, new camps, new events. I feel it tends to make folk dancing more of a pop culture fad rather than a long-standing folk tradition that people can become *a part of*. I mean no offense to anyone, I think we've all put a lot of much-appreciated effort into making contra enjoyable. But maybe the increase in numbers *was* due to our much-appreciated efforts, and it's just running out of steam? English country dancing has existed for centuries without being so self-conscious - is rapidly evolving to meet the dancers' apparent desire for new-and-exciting the answer to our problems? Thinking out loud, Greg

8 years, 8 months

Re: [Organizers] Organizers Digest, Vol 26, Issue 5

by Elizabeth Szekeres via Organizers

I do know one instance of the rotten US economy making it impossible for a good dancer to replace his ancient broken down truck, hence he is not attending any dances at all.. Very sad... -Elizabeth Szekeres Toronto Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 6, 2016, at 10:53 AM, via Organizers <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Send Organizers mailing list submissions to > organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers-sharedweight.net > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > organizers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > organizers-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Organizers digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Lower attendance at dances (Allison Bell via Organizers) > 2. Re: Lower attendance this year? (Chrissy Fowler via Organizers) > 3. Re: Lower attendance this year? (Chris Page via Organizers) > 4. Re: Organizers Digest, Vol 26, Issue 4 > (Emily Addison via Organizers) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2016 15:35:08 +0000 > From: Allison Bell via Organizers <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: "organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net" > <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Subject: [Organizers] Lower attendance at dances > Message-ID: > <DM5PR13MB14841609F89FA34C28FE966FB8820(a)DM5PR13MB1484.namprd13.prod.outlook.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > My observations in Greenfield are much of what's been said. We also have many new dancers, with the old group either aging out, finding other hobbies, nursing injuries, etc. > > One question: how politicized have dances becomes around issues like what a move is called, what a position is called? On the floor, there is a steady hum of resentment amongst long time dancers about these matters and some of this is also appearing to sour people on wanting to attend. > > Allison > > Sent from my iPhone > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2016 15:46:55 +0000 > From: Chrissy Fowler via Organizers > <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: organizers shared weight <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Organizers] Lower attendance this year? > Message-ID: > <BN6PR02MB2324AE14BF3257F166AFB6198D820(a)BN6PR02MB2324.namprd02.prod.outlook.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Interesting data so far! Are there dances out there that have seen an INCREASE in average attendance in the last year? > > Besides asking for help from the "converted", perhaps we need to increase our reach to the non-dancer community to boost the pool of potential attendees for a given dance. (Meaning, somehow become more visible to the majority of people in our geographic area - the non-dancers - so that we get our message out to those non-dancers who would want to come to our dance if they only knew about it.) > > In Belfast, we've got a major component for outreach to youth (schools, youth programming) but we could do more to raise the visibility of both our series and our organization. > > Any brainstorms for potential efforts to support sustainability? > > Cheers, > Chrissy Fowler > Belfast, ME > > >

8 years, 8 months

Friendly plea/reminder for Digest folks...

by Don Veino via Organizers

Please trim your post replies to quote just the directly applicable bits. Otherwise it may be hard to find what you're saying amidst the massive amount of (frequently garbled, at least on my end) embedded digest text. Thanks for your consideration. -Don

8 years, 8 months

It Ain't Just Us

by Don Peabody via Organizers

Hey, Committee— If you’re not on the Shared Weight listserve, you might want to sign up—see email list above—and check out the latest conversational thread. Reduced attendance seems to be trend nationwide. I don’t have the numbers at hand—Brian? Sophia?—but the stories—with a few exceptions—are remarkably familiar. As ever— Don P.S. Anybody talking to the Housing Trust about St. Joseph’s?

8 years, 8 months

Re: [Organizers] Organizers Digest, Vol 26, Issue 4

by Emily Addison via Organizers

I too worry about the impact of weekends and the 'super dance' experience impacting local's perceptions of attending 'regular' dances. Separate from that one point, this is starting to sound like a topic to raise with CDSS if many of us are noticing a trend. Thoughts? I'm wondering if we do some more sharing about best-practices on getting new people, converting, and keeping the regulars. Emily On Tue, Dec 6, 2016 at 10:34 AM, via Organizers < organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Send Organizers mailing list submissions to > organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers- > sharedweight.net > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > organizers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > organizers-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Organizers digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Lower attendance this year? (Paul Pindris via Organizers) > 2. Re: Lower attendance this year? (Perry Shafran via Organizers) > 3. Re: Organizers Digest, Vol 26, Issue 2 > (Elizabeth Szekeres via Organizers) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2016 10:18:49 -0500 > From: Paul Pindris via Organizers <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: Mary Collins <nativedae(a)gmail.com> > Cc: Shared Weight Organizers <Organizers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: Re: [Organizers] Lower attendance this year? > Message-ID: > <CAFwDPfgcTP7DHAaapYcQ-qQRg-9-Ux-DjJ2uckaquPBqP+SW5w@mail. > gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > There has been a new dance in Portland, Maine that started up earlier this > year, which to its credit has been highly successful. It is a weekly > mid-week dance that is not in direct competition with most NH dances, which > are typically held monthly on weekends. However, I have had more than one > person tell me that they are so enthused about this new dance (and > apparently they are able to fulfill their dancing needs by its every-week > scheduling) that they are no longer keen to get out to the smaller, more > local dances. I liken this to the effect of a Super Walmart shutting out > local businesses. Not sure if anything can be done about that. > > On Tue, Dec 6, 2016 at 10:02 AM, Mary Collins <nativedae(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > Buffalo attendance has been down as well, however the last dance was up a > > bit. Many of our long-time good dancers are not coming. A suggestion > has > > been made that the board contact them individually to discuss their MIA > > status, we have not made a decision as how to approach this as yet. > > > > I do know that in some cases there are "opposing" great events on our > > dance nights and we loose our out-of-towners (those that travel to our > > dance) to those. There have been some family illnesses, travel etc. that > > have effected us as well. > > > > One question that has come up among organizers and I wonder if others > have > > had similar thoughts...is a particular band or caller keeping folks away? > > thoughts? > > > > Mary Collins, QCCD.org > > > > ?Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning > > to dance in the rain!? ~ Unknown > > > > On Tue, Dec 6, 2016 at 8:25 AM, Paul Pindris via Organizers < > > organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > >> This is astonishing information, as attendance at my dance in Deerfield, > >> NH is down as much as 50% from its peak last season. The reason or > reasons > >> are unclear. If the poor attendance continues it potentially jeopardizes > >> the long-term viability of this decades-old event. > >> > >> Paul Pindris > >> Deerfield, NH > >> > >> On Tue, Dec 6, 2016 at 8:17 AM, Marie-Mich?le Fournier via Organizers < > >> organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> > >>> Hi all, > >>> Both Montreal and Ottawa have seen lower attendance this fall and > we > >>> got word that it's similar in Brooklyn. Are any other local dances > seeing > >>> this too? Any idea what might be causing this? Since it happens to both > >>> Canadian and American cities I doubt it's the political climate. > >>> Thanks, > >>> Marie > >>> ContraMontreal > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> Organizers mailing list > >>> Organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > >>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers-sharedweight.net > >>> > >>> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Organizers mailing list > >> Organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers-sharedweight.net > >> > >> > > >

8 years, 8 months

Re: [Organizers] Organizers Digest, Vol 26, Issue 2

by Elizabeth Szekeres via Organizers

Hi, All... Toronto attendance was significantly down during the 15/16 year, and it looks rather the same for 16/17. I'm wondering if the "good" dancers are preferring to dance at weekend events where the quality of the dancing is considerably better because of the skilled population that attend. Just putting that thought out there... I suppose the only way to know for sure is to poll people.... -Elizabeth Szekeres Talent Coordinator Toronto Contra Dance Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 6, 2016, at 10:02 AM, via Organizers <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Send Organizers mailing list submissions to > organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers-sharedweight.net > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > organizers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > organizers-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Organizers digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Lower attendance this year? > (Marie-Mich?le Fournier via Organizers) > 2. Re: Lower attendance this year? (Paul Pindris via Organizers) > 3. Re: Lower attendance this year? (David Kirchner via Organizers) > 4. Re: Lower attendance this year? (Dan Pearl via Organizers) > 5. Re: Lower attendance this year? (Mary Collins via Organizers) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2016 08:17:34 -0500 > From: Marie-Mich?le Fournier via Organizers > <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: Shared Weight Organizers <Organizers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: [Organizers] Lower attendance this year? > Message-ID: > <CADbbneZQ_QVp+xTzcg=NZP8jztPhvBX8koL+=WpCrrPtL=0xjw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Hi all, > Both Montreal and Ottawa have seen lower attendance this fall and we > got word that it's similar in Brooklyn. Are any other local dances seeing > this too? Any idea what might be causing this? Since it happens to both > Canadian and American cities I doubt it's the political climate. > Thanks, > Marie > ContraMontreal >

8 years, 8 months

Re: [Organizers] Organizers Digest, Vol 26, Issue 2

by Emily Addison via Organizers

Chiming in briefly from Ottawa. We usually have about 110 paid attendees and our first four dancers were all in the 80s. A big hit for us. Our last dance was better but 'tis worrying. Especially if a bigger trend. We don't think it's related to the talent as we have a diverse lineup that isn't unlike other years. And while the political situation is on the mind of many up here, my doubt is that is having an effect. We too are thinking of writing a carefully worded email to our community encouraging them to come out more often + bring friends (+ tips on how to do that effectively as we already encourage bringing firiends but doing that is an art). We were thinking of sending the email (if we do) over the holidays along with some youtube clips of the dances. We're also starting to push other outreach strategies we haven't used in a while. Glad you brought this up Marie-Michele and looking forward to more voices on this subject as it's such an important one! Emily On Tue, Dec 6, 2016 at 10:02 AM, via Organizers < organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Send Organizers mailing list submissions to > organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/organizers- > sharedweight.net > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > organizers-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > organizers-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Organizers digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Lower attendance this year? > (Marie-Mich?le Fournier via Organizers) > 2. Re: Lower attendance this year? (Paul Pindris via Organizers) > 3. Re: Lower attendance this year? (David Kirchner via Organizers) > 4. Re: Lower attendance this year? (Dan Pearl via Organizers) > 5. Re: Lower attendance this year? (Mary Collins via Organizers) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2016 08:17:34 -0500 > From: Marie-Mich?le Fournier via Organizers > <organizers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> > To: Shared Weight Organizers <Organizers(a)sharedweight.net> > Subject: [Organizers] Lower attendance this year? > Message-ID: > <CADbbneZQ_QVp+xTzcg=NZP8jztPhvBX8koL+=WpCrrPtL=0xj > w(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Hi all, > Both Montreal and Ottawa have seen lower attendance this fall and we > got word that it's similar in Brooklyn. Are any other local dances seeing > this too? Any idea what might be causing this? Since it happens to both > Canadian and American cities I doubt it's the political climate. > Thanks, > Marie > ContraMontreal >

8 years, 8 months

Creating a Caller Directory

by Chris Weiler via Organizers

I’m forwarding this on behalf of Luke Donforth. Please make sure to copy him on any replies since he is not a member of the list. All the best, Chris Weiler List Moderator Long version: When I (Luke Donforth) get an inquiry about calling for a gig that I can't do, I often refer them to the same handful of local callers that I know. But it's not always the most useful if the inquiry came from far away, or the folks I personally know are busy. I'm now trying to create a caller database; with geographic home-base of caller, how far they'll travel, what they call, and contact information. Also, somewhere where folks submit themselves; a way to hang their shingle, as it were. I know there are lists of callers out there, such as Charlie's excellent contra dance links, Ted Crane's extensive Dance Database, and the venerable Dance Gypsy. I was thinking it would be useful to have it in database format where it could be sorted and filtered. I'm also focusing on the callers, as opposed to the dances. I've created a google form that allows people to submit information; with a linked spreadsheet that would allow people to filter based on what they're looking for (both geographically and dance style). My hope is to eventually develop a front end to help filter that information, but for now I'm just sharing it with organizers as a database. The survey is at: <https://goo.gl/forms/62beEKCKsyysepGk1> https://goo.gl/forms/62beEKCKsyysepGk1 The results (~50 so far) are at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZIWfYyFwMHHm6MpyMCD_N8ssQcOD5s6yndu… I'm primarily a caller and doing this from the caller end, and I'd appreciate feedback from organizers. (I've already reached out to some I personally know in the formulation of this.) I'm making some effort to prevent e-mail addresses from being harvested by spam-bots, and I'm not widely disseminating the database link. The more interest, the more likely I'll put together a public front-end. If you think it's useful, you can also mention it to callers that you work with and encourage them to list themselves there. I'm not on the Organizers Shared-Weight; but you can reach me directly at calling.luke(a)gmail.com <mailto:calling.luke@gmail.com> Happy dancing, and thanks for your feedback -- Luke Donforth calling.luke(a)gmail.com <mailto:ing.luke@gmail.com>

8 years, 8 months

For Canadian shared weight organizers list members

by Emily Addison via Organizers

Dear Shared Weight Organizers List, I know the list has been fairly quiet over the last year and while this isn't a direct question posed to get conversation starts, it's directly applicable for some of you and many of the rest of you are likely to find it interesting. Please note --- the survey below is targeted towards CANADIAN organizers of trad events! *IN BRIEF:* The Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) **wants to hear from you** as we look at *how to best support *local organizers* of traditional dance music and song throughout Canada*. We see local organizers like you as key to creating the vibrant and thriving traditional dance, music and song scenes we all care about! We are running a *survey of local organizers until November 17th*. The goal of the survey is to learn: What are you organizing? What successes are you having? What challenges do you face? What immediate needs do you have? What ideas have you thought of for growing your community/activities? What supports would help you in the work that you do? *WHY PARTICIPATE?* Whether you are involved in PEI fiddling, NFLD traditional song, Metis step dancing, or other (as there are so many!) each tradition is culturally significant. They reflect the shared values and heritage of that community and help to define a sense of identity and belonging for individuals. Yet despite the diversity, there is much commonality in the organizational requirements across traditions. For instance, organizers of a Cape Breton traditional square dance, contra dance in British Columbia, and les danses folkloique Québécoises often do similar work, share similar challenges and could benefit from similar supports. By sharing with each other, we create more vibrant and resilient communities for all. By participating in the survey, you are not only informing CDSS on what we can do to support organizers throughout the country, but also other umbrella arts organizations and the Canada Council for the Arts with whom we will be sharing the findings. We will work to take action on common interests that arise from the survey, some in partnership with other umbrella organizations and many of which would be free or at little cost. We will also look at ways to address various particular interests where we can. (As a participant, you will be emailed a copy of the findings.) *HOW TO PARTICIPATE:* Complete the online survey by Thursday, November 17th. It will take 15-20 minutes. SURVEY LINK HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CDSSCanadianOrganizers-EN We hope that multiple organizers from the same group will participate. Also - please share with other local organizers in your area. As you know, connections within our traditions are often by word-of-mouth! More information about the survey and larger project is available below. We look forward to hearing from you, *Emily Addison (pourparler list member) and also Sarah PilzerThe CDSS Canadian Initiative* =================================== *MORE INFORMATION ON THE SURVEY* *Who is an organizer ... for the purpose of this survey?* For the purpose of this survey, an organizer is anyone involved in making a traditional dance, music, or song event, activity, or community happen. The activities vary widely from house concerts to dances, folk clubs, song circles, group lessons, jam sessions, festivals, etc. Organizers can be volunteers OR paid, single individuals OR committees, part of a non-profit OR commercial business, new OR experienced, run one-off-events OR ongoing series - you name it! *What traditions are included ... for the purpose of this survey?* CDSS' core focus has been on traditions that have evolved in N America and/or those with English roots. For example, traditional square dancing from places like Cape Breton and Quebec fit well having evolved in N America. Think everything from morris teams, traditional song circles, old-time music jam sessions, step-dancing traditions from all over, folk clubs that present traditional music concerts, etc. AND - we are still very much interested in hearing and supporting the wider trad scene. Thus, if organizers involved in trad activities such as Irish set dancing, scandinavian jam sessions, or international folk want to participate, please do! *Who is CDSS?* CDSS has been a leader and partner of traditional dance, music, and song across North America for over a century. We provide services to members as well as the wider traditional dance, music and song community in Canada. If you're interested in knowing more, visit cdss.org

8 years, 9 months

When to cancel dance?

by Deanna Palumbo via Organizers

With the current temps in the US at an alarming high, our dance hall has been running hot, with their one A/C unit cooling to 75-78 degrees while dancing. We keep it pretty windy, with lots of fans (quietest ones in the hall are small Lasko units and louder ones in the back). That being said, at what point do you cancel the dance because of heat? Dancers are already complaining and all we can do is keep it windy. Of course, we could cut our losses if minimum capacity of dancers are not coming because of the heat. In the past & at another hall, we used to cancel all of August because of heat, but I don't know how you can make that call because you really don't know how it will feel (or how many dancers will attend) until you get there. Deanna Palumbo Chattahoochee Country Dancers, Atlanta, GA

9 years

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